Variable throwing angle target projector



Oct. 27, 1953 J, PUTH 2,656,831

VARIABLE THROWING ANGLE TARGET PROJECTOR Filed March 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l 48 Fig.3. 4 1

George J. Put/1 v INVENTOR.

Oct. 27, 1953 G. J. PUTH 2,656,831

VARIABLE 'IHROWING ANGLE TARGET PROJECTOR Filed March 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 George J. Pulh INVENTOR.

Oct. 27, 1953 5, PUTH 2,656,831

VARIABLE THROWING ANGLE TARGET PROJECTOR Filed March 24, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Gee )rge J. Pu/h INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 27, 1953 OFFICE VARIAisLii timewme ANGLE TARGET PROJECTOR George J. rum, Appleton; Wis. A 'iiatibii March 24, 1952, Serial Nb. 278,159 2; Claims. (01. 124-9) This invention relatesto new anduseful improvements in target traps and, the primary objeot of the present invention is to proiride a target projector including a cocking lever attachedto a spring .actuatedthrowing arm and solconstructed. as to obviate tensionpn the spring or arm unless the operator pulls the cooking lever rearwaiclly. ll U Another important object of the present invention is to provide a target projectorincluding a Vertically swingable thrp wing mechanism and novel. and improved/means for adjusting the mechanism about the pivot to vary the trajectory of a target projectedlby the mechanism. "further-object bf the present invention is to provides ar e mi ct r o .the i eme ed character including a single lever for cocking the throwing mechanism, releasing the holding means for the throwingarm of the mechanism, and actuating the adjusting means. I

A still further aim of the present invention is to q d ai f rs t t p t i mp e a d eqtical in construction, strong and reliable in use, efilcient and durable in operation small and compact in structure, inexpensive to manufactu're, and otherwise well adapted for the purpose for whichthe same is intended m Qther objects and advantages reside in the details of constructionjand operations as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which; 7

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1';

Figure '3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of Figure l and showing the lever pulled rearwardly and about to release the holder for the target throwing arm;

Figure 4 "is a view similar to Figure 3 but show ing the throwing arm in its forward position after projecting a target;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan .view of Figure 4;

Figure '6 is a fragmentary View of Figure '3 showing the manner in which the throwing mechanism is adjustable about its pivot s Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 1--'| of Figurel; and, v n l. V.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 8-8 o;f Figural. l A V Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present insecured to h p tf an removably supports a pair of diametrically op; posed vertical stop pins 30 which will engage the member l8 to limit horizontal swinging movement Pin's' Bilinay be removed in order to permit corn plete 360 degrees rotation of the frame It on the base HL u A The end of the member l8 disposed above the base [0 supports apl'ate memher fiz to which a target throwing mechanism 34 is pivotally secured. The mechanism 34 incluries a pair of clamping plates 36 that straddle the plate member 32. A horizontal pivot 38 secures the plate member 32 and. the plates 3t together.

The periphery of a sleeve 40 is fixed to at least one of the plates 36 by welding or the like, The sleeve 40 is also fixed to a U-shaped support member 42 whose forward end is attached to a bearing sleeve 44. g f

A target throwing arm 46 is fixed at 'oneen d to a pivot '48 that extends downwardly through the bearing sleeve 44 A rigid link 51] is removahly secured to the lower end of the pivot 48 and parallels the arm 45. The outer end of link 5%? is attached to the forward end of a tightly coiled eaprinsga 52 whose rear end fixedly supports a short The lower end of a lever 56 is pivoted, as at 583a, to the plates 36 ,'and .an intermediate portion of the lever 56 is pivoted to the bar 54, whereby the spring 52 may be extended. The lever 56 may also be employed for cooking arm 46 in a manner presently to be more fully described. A hand grip 51 is secured over the upper end of the lever 55.

A rigid bar element 58 is secured to the upper face of arm 46 by spacers Ell. One edge of the bar element 58 supports a resilient strip 62 against which a target will rest that is supported on the arm 46. v

A holder 64 is pivoted on the forward end of member 42 behind the pivot 48 and includes a pair of upstanding laterally spaced lugs 56 for engaging a lug 68 on the undersurface of the arm 46 when the arm 46 is pulled rearwardly, in

A 1 order to retain the arm 46 retracted,

Means is provided for releasing the arm holding means 64, 66. The releasing means comprises a rod having a forward end pivoted to the holder 64 and a rear end that extends through an eye 12 fixed to an L-shaped releaser l4 pivoted to the rear end of member 42. Nuts 15 are threaded on the rear end of rod it and a coil spring 78 embraces the rear end of the rod 70 and is biased between the nuts 16 and the eye 72 to yieldingly urge the rod 10 rearwardly and the lugs 66 into engagement with lug 68. The shorter leg of releaser 14 extends across the member 42 behind the lever 56.

Means is provided for adjusting the mechanism 34 about its pivot 38. This means comprises a ratchet 80 that is eccentrically pivoted to a U- shaped bracket 82 fixed to the mechanism 34 by a pair of spaced parallel arms 83. A pawl 84 is secured to the bar 54 for engaging the ratchet to actuate rotation of the ratchet. A seat 86 is fixed to the member if! under the ratchet for selectively engaging the teeth of the ratchet.

Spring 52 extends through the sleeve 46 and is retained against lateral movement in the sleeve 40 by a spacer lug 89,. Sleeve 46 supports a spring 90 that is attached to the link 50 to limit and cushion forward movement of the arm 46 relative to the frame.

A coil spring 92 is terminally secured to the member 42 and the member is to urge the forward end of the member 42 upwardly as shown best in Figure 3.

A retainer arm 94 is fixed to the member 42 and. includes a laterally projecting flange 96 that will pass over arm 46 as the arm 46 is pulled rearwardly, to form a supporting ledge for a target resting on arm 46.

In practical use of the present invention, the lever 56 may be rocked back and forth so that pawl 84 will engage and rotate ratchet 80 until the mechanism 34 is adjusted about the pivot 38 to a desired position.

Then the lever 56 is forced forwardly by hand grip 51 so that spring 52 will be moved forwardly to rotate pivot 48 and swing arm 46 rearwardly where lug 68 engages lugs 66 to retain the arm 46 retracted. A target is next placed on the arm 46 and rests against flange 96 and strip 62.

Lever 56 is pulled rearwardly by hand grip 51 and since the rear end of spring 52 is attached to the lever 56, the spring 52 will be expanded. Continued rearward pull on lever 56 by an operator seated on the seat and grasping hand grip 51 will cause the lever to engage releaser 14 pulling rod 10 rearwardly until holder 64 releases lug 68. 'The spring 52 then causes the arm 46 to swing forwardly to project the target into the air.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

l. A target projector comprising a base, a frame rotatably supported on the base, a target throwing mechanism vertically pivotally mounted on the frame and including a swingable throwing arm, a spring member attached to said arm for imparting swinging movement to the arm, a cocking lever pivotally mounted on the mechanism and engaging the spring member to extend the latter as the lever is pulled rearwardly, a holder forming part of the mechanism for engaging and holding the arm retracted, said arm being en gaged with said holder during forward movement of the lever, releasing means for the holder actuated by said lever during rearward movement of the lever, and means carried by the mechanism engaging said frame and actuated by said lever for adjusting the mechanism about its pivot.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said adjusting means comprises a ratchet eccentrically pivotally attached to the mechanism, a seat on the frame selectively engaging the teeth of the ratchet, and a pawl attached to the spring member and engaging the ratchet.

3. A target projector comprising a base, a frame rotatably supported on the base, a vertically swingable target throwing mechanism pivoted to the frame and including a swingable throwing arm, a spring attached to the arm for swinging the arm forwardly, means engageable with the arm for retaining the arm in a rearward position, a combined cooking and actuating lever pivotally attached to the mechanism for rearward and forward pivotal movement, said lever being attached to the spring itO extend the spring as the lever is pulled rearwardly for moving the arm into engagement with said retaining means as the lever is moved forwardly, a releasing means for the retaining means including a part disposed behind and in the path of the lever to release the retaining means as the lever is pulled rearwardly, and means actuated by the lever for adjusting the mechanism about the pivot thereof to var the trajectory of a target projected by the arm.

4. A target proj ector comprising a base, a frame rotatably supported on the base, a vertically swingable target throwing mechanism pivoted to the frame and including a swingable throwing arm, a spring attached to the arm for swinging the arm forwardly, means engageable with the. arm for retaining the arm in a rearward position, a combined cooking and actuating lever pivotally attached to the mechanism for rearward and forward pivotal movement, said lever being attached to the spring to extend the spring as the lever is pulled rearwardly and for moving the arminto engagement with said retaining means as the lever is moved forwardly, a releasing means for the retaining means including a part disposed behind and in the path of the lever to release the retaining means as the lever is pulled rearwardly, a ratchet eccentrically rotatably secured to the mechanism, said frame having a seat selectively engaging the teeth of the ratchet to adjust the mechanism about its pivot to vary the trajectory of a target projected by the arm, and a pawl attached to the spring and engaging the ratchet to permit step by step rotation of the ratchet as the lever is actuated.

5. A target trap comprising a base, a horizontally swingable frame rotatably supported on the base, a target throwing mechanism, a pivot securing the mechanism to the frame and permitting vertical swinging'movement of the mechanism relative to the frame, said mechanism including a forwardly and rearwardly swingable throwing arm pivotally mounted on the mecha nism, a holder on the mechanism engageable with the arm during rearward movement of the arm to hold the arm in a rearward position, a spring attached to the arm for urging the arm forwardly, tilt means carried by the mechanism engaging the frame for adjusting the mechanism about said pivot, and a single forwardly and rear wardly swingable lever pivoted to the mechanism and attached to the spring, and means carried by the lever engageable with the tilt means for adjusting the tilt means, said lever having the three fold function of cooking the arm, releasing the holder and actuating the adjusting means.

6. A target trap comprising a base, a horizontally swingable frame rotatably supported on the base, a target throwing mechanism, a pivot securing the mechanism to the frame and permitting vertical swinging movement of the mechanism relative to the frame said mechanism in cluding a. forwardly and rearwardly swingable throwing arm pivotally mounted on the mechanism, a holder on the mechanism engageable with the arm during rearward movement of the arm to hold the arm in a rearward position, a spring attached to the arm for urging the arm forwardly, means carried by the mechanism engaging the frame for adjusting the mechanism about said pivot, a forwardly and rearwardly swingable lever pivoted to the mechanism and attached to the spring for extending the spring as the lever is pulled rearwardly and for swinging the arm rear- 6 wardly into engagement with the holder as the lever is moved forwardly, means disposed in the path of the lever and engaged with the holder for releasing the holder as the lever is pulled rearwardly, and means carried by the lever en gaging and actuating said adjusting means.

GEORGE J. PU'IH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 880,219 Kay Feb. 25, 1908 917,850 Crenshaw Apr. 13, 1909 1,477,942 Carothers Dec. 18, 1923 1,506,992 North Sept. 2, 1924 2,063,284 Winans Dec. 8, 1936 

